COMPARATIVE DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF DIFFERENT BIOMATERIALS FOR DETECTION OF TORCH PATHOGENS
Abstract
TORCH infections represent a significant global health problem due to their association with congenital anomalies, fetal developmental disorders, and neonatal morbidity. The TORCH complex includes Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Herpes simplex virus (HSV), and other infectious agents capable of transplacental transmission during pregnancy. These pathogens can cause severe complications such as miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, congenital malformations, neurological impairment, and neonatal mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the comparative diagnostic value of different biomaterials for the detection of TORCH pathogens. Various biological samples including blood serum, saliva, urine, placental tissue, and amniotic fluid were analyzed using modern laboratory diagnostic methods such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results demonstrated that molecular diagnostic methods, particularly PCR, provide significantly higher sensitivity and specificity compared with conventional serological testing. Non-invasive biomaterials such as saliva and urine showed high diagnostic value for detecting cytomegalovirus infection, whereas amniotic fluid analysis was particularly informative for detecting fetal infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii. The findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate biomaterials and combining serological and molecular diagnostic techniques to improve early detection of TORCH infections.